US oil demand seen at 15-year low in 2012 - EIA

US oil demand will fall to a 15-year low of 18.77 million bpd this year, led by a drop in gasoline demand to an 11-year low, government forecasters said Tuesday. That downward revision turned a flicker of growth in oil demand into a second straight year of decline, and the sixth of the last seven years.

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By DAVID BIRD

US oil demand will fall to a 15-year low of 18.77 million
bpd this year, led by a drop in gasoline demand to an 11-year
low, government forecasters said Tuesday.

In its monthly update to the short-term energy outlook, the
Energy Information Administration cut its demand outlook for
the current year in the world's biggest oil consumer by 100,000
bpd from a month earlier.

That downward revision turned a flicker of growth in oil
demand into a second straight year of decline, and the sixth of
the last seven years.

Gasoline use is expected to average 8.67 million bpd this
year, down 0.8% from a year ago and a 0.5% downward revision
from the month-earlier forecast, amid a 7.4% rise in prices to
a record annual average of $3.79 a gallon.

In 2013, the EIA said, US demand is expected to rise 0.6%, to
18.88 million bpd, despite a further slim decline in gasoline
demand.

In the current quarter, US demand is expected to average
18.48 million bpd, down 3.2% from a year earlier.

The forecast for the current quarter was revised down 1.1%
from a month earlier, with revisions in demand for gasoline,
distillate fuel (diesel/heating oil) and jet fuel.

Second-quarter demand was revised down from a month ago to
show a slim 0.4% rise, mostly on a 1.9% rise in distillate
demand, partly offset by declines in gasoline and jet fuel.

Second-quarter oil demand is expected to average 18.83
million bpd, up 80,000 bpd from a year ago.

Diesel fuel prices are expected to average a record $4.15 a
gallon at the pump, and 8.1% higher than a year ago.

US refiners will pay a record price above $115/bbl for
imported crude this year, and a record of about $114.50/bbl on
average for combined imported and domestic oil.

Those prices are up about 12% from a year ago.

US gross domestic product is expected to grow at a 2.2% rate
this year, up from 1.7% growth in 2011. For 2013, the growth
rate will be 2.4%.

The 2012 figure is an upward revision from the February
forecast, which called for 2% growth following 1.8% growth in
2011.

Dow Jones Newswires

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